We will have eclipse viewing glasses donated by Friends of State Parks. Because the sun cannot be viewed directly without eclipse glasses (except for the few moments of totality), everyone who wants to watch it's progress will need these special glasses. And, we will have a telescope with a solar lens.

You will need to pre-register to guarantee glasses. You can sign-up your family members by indicating the number guests.

Please try to car pool so everyone has a parking space.

In Raleigh, coverage will start around 1:30pm and be 93 percent at 2:45 p.m. The eclipse ends about 4 p.m.

Allow time to park and get your glasses. We will start handing out the glasses at noon for those who signed up.

The “Capture the Spirit in William B. Umstead State Park” Exhibit features the winning photos from our 4th photo contest.

All winning entries, including Honorable Mentions, will be exhibited at the William B. Umstead Visitor Center. All the winning photos and illustrations are featured in a 2018Park calendar.

We like to thank JW Image Labs for photo printing of the winning photos.

The exhibit reception is open to the public. The reception will take place on Saturday, August 26, 2017 from 2-4 p.m. in the William B. Umstead State Park Visitor’s Center, 8801 Glenwood Avenue, Raleigh, NC 27617.

We are seeking task leaders to help with this service day. This will be part of a larger 9/11 service day project. If you have worked at this project on a past service day and can help us by being a task leader, please come early to help set-up and be assigned a task to supervise.

We will be continuing to stabilize the rock-lined side slopes by laying new, large footer rocks, an innovative side slope holder to help keep the rocks in place. PLUS planting native muhly grass on the side slopes.

We will also be doing some weeding and maintenance in the butterfly gardens.

Bring your work gloves if you have them. But, we also have gloves. The Umstead Coalition will provide lunch, snacks and water.

This project is providing several environmental and user benefits, including: reduced runoff volume and intensity of stormwater runoff (as well as treatment of sediment and nutrient pollutants) due to the infiltration into special soil media and plants installed in the medians. The trees and shrubs will provide much needed shade in the hot, steamy parking lot. The shade will reduce the temperature of the storm water and reduce the thermal impact to the downgradiant Park streams. More details: forested rain garden